“No.” He cuts me off with the wave of the hand. “I’ll walk you home. Come on, which way is it?”
“Umm… but your car?” I point to the black Audi R8 that’s parked in front of the next building.
“I’ll pick it up after dropping you off. Or I can give you a ride?”
The thought of being alone with him in a car that probably smells just like him makes my insides tingle.We’d be so close. What if he takes my hand? What if he puts his on my thigh? What if he tries to kiss me while I’m locked in his car and I let him? No. I can’t be in there alone with him.At least here, we’re out in the open. Shane is too much of a gentleman to try anything.
“No, I’d prefer to walk… if that’s okay?”
“Of course. If it makes you more comfortable to walk, then we’ll walk.” He smiles warmly despite the chilly air biting at our flesh.
I nod, leading the way as we stroll side by side down the walkway in silence. But after a full minute of hearing the sound of our boots crunching in the snow, I ask him a question I’ve always wanted to know. Because maybe after all these years, I’ve just been misreading his niceness for what it really is. Him just being nice.
“Why are you so nice to me, Shane?”
He doesn’t answer right away, taking a few seconds to think my question over before peeking at me, the dimple in his cheek appearing as he smiles. “Can I be honest with you, Aubrey?”
“I always want you to be honest with me.”
I didn’t even have to think about it, the words just spilled out the second my brain registered his question. Because I know that if ever Shane wasn’t to be truthful with me, it would break my heart.
“I like you, Aubrey.” His words stop me in my tracks as I quickly turn and look up at him, needing to see the honesty in hiseyes. “I really like you.” His knuckles come up to caress my cheek before letting them rest below my jaw as his thumb delicately rubs back and forth over my skin.
My breath hitches, the same warmth I felt when he touched my knee a few months back resurfacing within me. My nipples harden against my bra instantly, and it has nothing to do with the cold weather surrounding us. It’s all because of Shane and the simple touch of his thumb along my cheek.
And of course, this is when I have to go and make things embarrassing.
“I’m a virgin!” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “I’ve never been touched by a man. I’ve never even been kissed.” I quickly slap a hand over my mouth, shutting myself up before I can make this any worse.
His eyes go wide as his mouth opens and closes, then opens again and closes again, making him look like a gaping fish. He shakes his head, tries to speak once more, but still, no words come out.
Now I really feel like a complete fool. Why the heck would you say that, Aubrey!?
My face feels like it’s on fire as well as my neck, the tip of my ears, and nose. Finally, having the courage to speak again, I bring my hand back down and straighten my posture, trying to leave with as much dignity as I have left.
“Oh God, forget I said anything. You don’t need to walk me home, it’s fine, I’m almost there anyway.” I turn my back to him, needing to get away. “Goodnight, Shane.”
I begin to stride quickly down the path, hands balled into fists as I shiver from the cold and embarrassment. I should have put my gloves on before leaving, and my hat, maybe a scarf too, would have been smarter.
“Hey, wait.” I hear his footsteps behind me, but I don’t stop. “Aubrey, wait!” He grabs my elbow, pulling me back swiftly as I turn and collide with his body.
My hands instinctively go to his chest, resting there as I look up. He doesn’t let go of my elbow as he brings his other hand to my waist, holding me in place. Shane is tall, six-foot-five, while I only stand at five-foot-five, which means that when I’m standing this close to him, I have to crane my neck back to look into his eyes.
“Did you think I wouldn’t be interested in you if I knew you were a virgin?”
Shame fills me as I gaze down at my hands. “Why would you be? I have nothing to offer you.” I shake my head, hating how vulnerable I feel in this moment. “Why would you want someone so inexperienced in general? Shane, I don’t have anything of my own. I have no idea where my life is going. The car I drive isn’t even mine; it’s Ronnie’s. The condo I live in, my brother bought it. I don’t even have an education. You could do so much better.”
“You’re wrong.” He releases my elbow, his hand coming up to grab my chin as he tilts my head back up to meet his gaze. “You’re wrong, Aubrey. I don’t care about all those things, and I certainly don’t need you to offer me anything. The only thing I’ve ever cared about was you and your heart. Who you are as a person is so much more important than all those things you mentioned, and that alone makes you greater than most people I know.”
He cups my cheek with the hand from my waist as a blush spreads over it. “You have the kindest heart I’ve ever seen, the most beautiful smile and the cutest little nose.” He chuckles when I scrunch it up. “But your eyes, God your eyes, Aubrey, I get lost in them every time. They make me nervous,” he whispers before swallowing.
“You make me nervous too, Shane,” I admit in return, although it’s pretty obvious already.
“Yeah, well, it’s acceptable at your age. Mine, not so much.” A low, throaty laugh expels from his lips. “I’m thirty-seven, soon to be thirty-eight. I shouldn’t still be nervous around a girl I like.” He smirks down at me.
“You’re not that old. I think it’s still acceptable.” I smile back.
“So, my age doesn’t bother you?” He searches my eyes, looking for any indication that it might.But he won’t find any.
